John Bryson Chane

John Bryson Chane

Episcopal Bishop of Washington

The Right Reverend John Bryson Chane is the eighth Episcopal Bishop of Washington, a diocese that encompasses 93 congregations and about 45,000 church members in the District of Columbia, and the Maryland counties of Prince George's, Montgomery, Charles and Saint Mary's. Before coming to Washington, the “On Faith” panelist was dean of Saint Paul's Cathedral in San Diego from 1996-2002. In Washington, he also serves as president of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, which governs Saint Alban’s School for Boys, the National Cathedral School for Girls, Beauvoir Primary School, the Cathedral College and the National Cathedral. Throughout his ministry, Chane has been active in projects addressing low-income housing needs, public education reform, poverty and health care reform issues. He also has worked with Episcopalian and charitable organizations around the world as a community organizer, board member and adviser. In San Diego, he was part of an initiative to strengthen ties with Hispanic church members. As part of that effort, he served on the Diocesan Hispanic Task Force and coordinated the “Church Without Borders” program linking the Diocese of San Diego with the Diocese of Western Mexico and the Anglican Church of Mexico. Chane, who earned his divinity degree at Yale Divinity School, enjoys playing drums in reunions with his old blues band, "The Chane Gang." Close.

John Bryson Chane

Episcopal Bishop of Washington

The Right Reverend John Bryson Chane is the eighth Episcopal Bishop of Washington, a diocese that encompasses 93 congregations and about 45,000 church members in the District of Columbia, and the Maryland counties of Prince George's, Montgomery, Charles and Saint Mary's more »

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Christ Calls Us To Try

Responding to alleviate suffering poverty, disease, homelessness, natural disasters, and the demeaning of the human condition by internal or external forces is a requirement that is directed to the broad Christian Community through the core teachings of Jesus.

Jesus was acutely aware that the poor would always be with us but that did not mean that we should not engage in the hard work of ending poverty.

Churches by themselves or broad Christian denominations globally cannot end such conditions that demean, demoralize and destroy the creatures of God....but we can be the "weavers" that bring faith-based organizations, non-profits, the corporate sector and government agencies worldwide together to address, relieve and possibly alleviate such conditions.

Dangers inherent in such efforts however are that large, unaffiliated churches and even huge traditional denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Communion would see such aid, support and relief as a way of gaining converts in exchange for services rendered.

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